ROCKFORD — Rockford IceHogs fans got their first in-person look at their team this season and the newly refurbished BMO Harris Bank Center on Saturday night.

They saw new seats, brighter lights, new concessions and lots of new players. And a thriller to the finish.

Two goals in the final 1 minute, 10 seconds of regulation left a quite favorable impression on a near-sellout turnout of 6,202. Brad Winchester and Phillip Danault struck for Rockford to bring about overtime.

Maxim Shalunov, Jeremy Morin and Viktor Svedberg scored in the shootout, with only Gustav Nyquist tallying for Grand Rapids.

“That's what we're accustomed to doing the last couple of years,” Morin said. “It's not the picture-perfect way to get it done. But I think we're a great third-period team. We find ways to win and get points, and we showed that tonight.

“All you need is one goal to get the momentum, and we got a quick one (by Winchester) and all the momentum is one your side and their backs are against the wall. Some of the young guys stepped up for us and all of a sudden it's a tie game.”

The crowd was entertained throughout, with numerous ups and downs. Rockford (4-2-0-0) rallied from a 2-0 deficit after one period to draw even late in the middle period on tallies by familiar faces Jimmy Hayes and Morin.

Hayes got his second of the season at 6:33 and Morin converted his third on a power play at 17:40. Hayes easily led Rockford in scoring last season against the Griffins (7 goals, 5 assists). For Morin, it marked his 134th straight game with a shot on goal.

The buzz in the stands disappeared just before the second-period horn sounded. Grand Rapids' Teemu Pulkkinen blasted a shot past goalie Antti Raanta with six-tenths of a second on the clock for a 3-2 edge.

Landon Ferraro (1:51) and Triston Grant (18:43) put the Griffins in front in the first period, although Rockford outshot the visitors 17-13 in the opening 20 minutes and 42-39 on the evening.

Pulkkinen's second score of the night, on a power play, gave Grand Rapids (2-2-1-0) a 4-2 cushion at 10:13 of the third.

“At the end of the days it's just two points,” Morin said. “But obviously, there's a little more. You want to get off to a good start and get some momentum at home, and just be able to always bring it when you're here.”